Population
2 million
50% Bhote
35% ethnic Nepali
15% tribes
Capital City
Thimphu
Leadership
King
Jigme Singye
Wangchuck
Prime Minister
Lyonpo Khandu
Wangchuk
Religion
75% Buddhist
25% Hindu
Bhutan
Ambassador
to the
U.S.
Bhutan Consulate-General
2 UN Plaza, 27th Floor
New York NY 10017
Phone: (212) 826-1919
Fax: (212) 826-2998
BIO
Situated in the treacherous terrain of the Himalayas between India and Communist China,
Bhutan is the only official Buddhist kingdom in the
world. The Bhutanese call their country Druk-yul,
meaning “Land of the Thunder Dragon”. The Drukpa
sect of Kagyupa Buddhism (a branch of Tibetan
Buddhism) is the state religion. Buddhism is con-
sidered an integral part of Bhutanese national identity.
There is a close relationship between state power
and Buddhist priesthood. Non-Buddhists suffer political
and social discrimination. Hinduism is also a recog-
nized religion in Bhutan. Major Hindu festivals are
national holidays and are celebrated by the royal
family. Proselytism and conversion to other faiths are
strictly prohibited.
Religious Persecution
Bhutan remained closed to Christianity until 1965.
Through the fervent witness of Christians inside
Bhutan and on the Indian border, the number of
believers has grown steadily in the past 25 years.
Sadly, the increase in converts has brought renewed
restrictions.
Since October 2000, the government of Bhutan has
embarked on a sustained campaign against the
Christian minority in the country. Christians in the
south, in particular, have come under severe
pressure from the authorities to renounce their faith.
This new wave of persecution reportedly began to
grow after the hereditary monarch Jigme Singye
Wangchuk publicly encouraged his people to declare
allegiance to Buddhism.
Taking their cue from the King’s speech and
encouraged by Buddhist clerics who claim that
Christianity brings division to the nation, regional
officials have intensified their repression of the few
existing house churches. Christians are forced to
pledge in writing not to gather to worship or to
proselytize.
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other Bhutan websites?
‘I am fully aware of the rules and regulations governing the practice of any religion other than
Buddhism or Hinduism in Bhutan, and shall strictly abide by these rules.
‘I shall accept the penalties for breaching these rules’
The penalties for defying such undertakings include withdrawal of all state benefits, loss of free
education for their children, loss of promotion and training opportunities, termination of employment,
cancellation of trade licenses, restriction of movement and, for repeated offences, exile.
When Christians turned up at their district offices to register for the annual census this year, they
were also asked to give details of their conversions and to sign forms to renounce their faith.
Persecution on increase
CSW received reports that believers from remote
villages in the districts of Chirang, Surband and
Tongsa were rounded up by local officials and
severely beaten.
Those who refused to renounce Christianity were
imprisoned and brutally beaten for several days.
Others were forced to carry sandbags as a
punishment. Some who suffered broken ribs and arms
as a result of the torture were refused hospital treatment
for their injuries. Those who gave in to the
torture were forced to brew liquor and perform rituals to prove they had recanted.
Many Christians among the Nepali population were
asked by the district authorities to either leave
Christianity or leave the country.
According to the Center for Protection of Minorities and
Against Racism and Discrimination in Bhutan
(CEMARD-Bhutan), Christians in Chirang have been
denied water supply, electricity, timber permits
and firewood permits. The authorities also instigated
communal attacks against them. The authorities
are very sensitive to Christians receiving support from the
West. They are particularly suspicious of
any Christian possessing a tape recorder or a television set.
The Census Officers often mark the names of
Christians in the register and threaten to delete their
details if they refuse to renounce their faith. There is a
very strong possibility of the eviction of
Christian minorities from Bhutan in the near future.
The State has recently taken a more proactive stance in
closing down church meetings in public
places. In the beginning of April 2001, authorities and police
interrupted church meetings to record
the names of believers. Many fled in fear of being identified and punished. Some pastors were
detained for interrogation and threatened with imprisonment. Police closed some church groups and
demanded that they cease all public worship and evangelistic activities.
From April 8 2001, Christians are no longer allowed to rent
premises for their religious activities
including Sunday worship. Christian activities in other regions are closely monitored by
the state
security forces. Christians in some areas are meeting in the middle of the
night for fear of persecution
from the authorities.
In the capital, Thimpu, because of the presence of
international aid agencies, the Bhutanese
authorities have been more diplomatic in their dealings with Christians.